### Vigo County Sheriff's Office and Jail Division The Vigo County Sheriff's Office is the primary custodian of county jail records. The Vigo County Jail, located in Terre Haute, houses individuals arrested by county deputies, state police, and local municipal officers. * **Inmate Roster:** The Sheriff's Office frequently updates an online inmate roster or utilizes third-party search portals (such as jail tracker databases) to list currently housed individuals. These listings typically include the inmate's name, booking photo (mugshot), charges, bail amount, and booking date. * **In-Person and Phone Inquiries:** If an online search does not yield results, you can contact the Vigo County Jail directly. Be prepared to provide the individual's full name and date of birth. ### Terre Haute Police Department If the arrest occurred within the city limits of Terre Haute, the Terre Haute Police Department (THPD) may have generated the initial arrest report. While the physical booking and mugshot process usually takes place at the Vigo County Jail, the THPD maintains incident and accident reports. You can request these records through the department's records division. ### Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) If the individual you are searching for has already been convicted and sentenced to a state prison, their records will no longer be in the local county jail. You can locate state prisoners using the Indiana Department of Correction's online offender search tool. This database provides mugshots, sentencing details, and the facility location for active state inmates.
## Vigo County Court Records Court records provide detailed information about criminal charges, civil lawsuits, traffic violations, and probate cases. ### Indiana Odyssey Case Management System The easiest way to search for Vigo County court records is through the state's online court portal, Odyssey (mycourts.in.gov). This free public database allows you to search by: * **Name:** Search by first and last name, or business name. * **Case Number:** Search using the specific case number assigned by the court. * **Attorney:** Search for cases associated with a specific legal representative. To narrow your search, select "Vigo County" from the court drop-down menu. The system displays case dispositions, chronological case summaries, upcoming hearing dates, and filing details.
### Vigo County Clerk’s Office For certified copies of court documents, historical records, or cases not available online, you must contact the Vigo County Clerk’s Office. The Clerk maintains the official records for the Vigo County Circuit and Superior Courts. You can submit a public records request in person or by mail, though fees may apply for physical copies or certified documents. ## Other Vigo County Public Records Beyond criminal and court records, several other county departments manage vital, property, and historical records. ### Vital Records (Birth and Death Certificates) The Vigo County Health Department manages vital statistics, including birth and death certificates that occurred within the county. * **Access Restrictions:** Unlike general public records, vital records in Indiana are not open to everyone. You must demonstrate a direct tangible interest (such as being an immediate family member) and provide valid identification to request these certificates.
### Marriage Licenses and Divorce Decrees * **Marriage Licenses:** The Vigo County Clerk’s Office issues and archives marriage licenses. You can search for marriage records online through the Indiana State Library's database or request certified copies directly from the Clerk. * **Divorce Decrees:** Because divorce is a court action, records of dissolution of marriage are maintained by the Vigo County Clerk as part of the court record system. ### Property and Land Records The Vigo County Recorder’s Office is responsible for recording and maintaining documents related to real estate transactions, including deeds, mortgages, liens, and plats. Many of these records can be searched online through paid public access portals linked on the Recorder's official county webpage, or viewed in person at the county courthouse. ### Historical Records and Obituaries If you are conducting genealogical research or looking for historical obituaries, the Vigo County Public Library (VCPL) is a valuable resource. The library maintains local history archives, microfilm of historical Terre Haute newspapers, and obituary databases. * **Obituary Searches:** You can search the library's local history database by name or date. * **Local Newspapers:** The *Terre Haute Tribune-Star* archives also serve as a primary source for historical obituaries and local news reports. ## Tips for Requesting Public Records in Vigo County
To make your public records search as efficient as possible, keep the following tips in mind: * **Be Specific:** When submitting a request, provide as much detail as possible, including full names, dates of birth, case numbers, and relevant dates. * **Understand the Fees:** While viewing records online is often free, government agencies may charge statutory fees for photocopying, certifying documents, or retrieving archived physical files. * **Know the Turnaround Times:** Under Indiana's APRA, agencies have specific timeframes to respond to public records requests (typically 24 hours for in-person requests and 7 calendar days for mailed or emailed requests). Note that this is the time to respond to the request, not necessarily to produce the records. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Are mugshots public record in Vigo County? Yes, arrest mugshots are generally considered public records in Indiana. However, law enforcement agencies have some discretion regarding the immediate release of booking photos during active investigations. Most active bookings can be viewed via the county's jail roster.
### How do I find out if someone is currently in the Vigo County Jail? You can check the active inmate roster provided by the Vigo County Sheriff's Office online, or call the jail facility directly to inquire about a current inmate's status and bond information. ### Can I search Vigo County court records for free? Yes. The Indiana Odyssey Case Management System (mycourts.in.gov) allows you to search criminal, civil, and traffic cases in Vigo County for free. ### Where can I find historical obituaries for Vigo County residents? The Vigo County Public Library in Terre Haute maintains extensive local history and genealogy archives, including indexed obituary databases and historical newspaper archives.
